John wesley alesworth



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JOHN WESLEY ALESWORTH, or SANTA CRUZ,cannionrm-r Latas Pam No. 72,581, dma Damiana, 1867;-

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To ALL wHoM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, JOHN WESLEY ALESWORTH, of'Santa Cruzz, county of SantaiGruz, State of California, have invented an Improved Gauging-Box for Shingles, 85o.; and I do hereby declare the following description and accompanying drawings are sufficient to enable any person skilled in the-art or science to which it most nearly appertains to make and use my saidinvention or improvements without further-invention or experiment.

The object of my invention is to provide a gauging-machine for straightening and gauging the edges of lumber, such `as boards, plank, and shingles, but more especially forgaugng shingles after they have been split and shaved. f My invention consists of a platform mounted on legs, and having side boards with graduated steps at each i end. A box of the desired length, with top and bottom removed, is placed upon the form between the side boards, and is provided with a transverse screen for pressing the shingles together. In order to bevel pieces of boards'or plank, false bottoms are employed, having the necessary bevelled grooves. y' The false bottoms are raised by head-pieces having pins in them.' Y v A To more fully explain my invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawings and letters marked thereon, oil which- Figure 1 is a side sectional elevation taken through Y Y.

Figure 2 is a back view withithe end removed. i v

Figure 3 is a side sectional elevation, showing the arrangement for tapering.

Figure 4 is an end view with the b evelling-pattern in place.

A represents a form' upon legs a a, having side boardsB B. At the rear ends of theseboards are formed graduated steps t b lv b; also, steps-b b b' b are made in the supplemental pieces C C', placed upon the inside ofthe boards at the front-end gauge."- The box Dis made of, the desired length, and may be closed at both ends, the upper edges ot' which are lined with steel straps, d d, to prevent marring during the operation of planing or shaving. The apparatus may be stationed next the place of splitting and shaving, so as to be convenient, the shingles being partially sorted after shaving. They are selected and placed upon 'their edges in the box D untilit is full, when the handle E is turned and the screen .made tight, thus holding the shingles securely, when their upper edges may be shaved off. It the shingles ai'evvery narrow, one or more one-inch false bottoms may be put in until the upper edges of the shingles are at the required height. The box D may besix inches in depth, and will serve for shingles et' that widthv for anything wider. The bar F is placed across any pair of vthe steps b b', and one en d of the box D set upon it. The other stands upon the steps b' b', as show n,

'thus raising the box to any desired height for the width required. The weights e` e eer other device serve to vkeep the parts steady while shaving. If a tapering piece of wood or board is required, false bottoms, G, may be placed in the box until the depth of the box vequals the greatest width of the desired piece. '.llhe'pattern H is then placed upon one end of and the board I laid upon this. .The boards to be tapered are then locked into the box and the projecting upper edges shaved oil'. Fig. letshows the manner of bevelling, `which is done by placing the pattern L in the box upon the false bottom K. A small longitudinal slot is eut in this bottom so correspending with the longest face of L as to be at right angles to it to receive the edge of the board n to be operated upon. This or any number of boards are then locked, as before, and the upper edges shaved or planed ol, after which they may be turned over and the other edge finished.- In this manner, by providing anumher of patterns, a great variety of such work may be expeditiously donc, tlie box being regulated in height andA depth for the classvof work to be done. For a shingle-gauge, where \they are shaved by hand, it 'is a great labor-saver, as one man can gauge and pack much. faster thancould ordinarily be packed, while'v theirvalue will begreater, because of their uniformity. v 4 i Having thus described my invention, what l claim, and desire to secure by 'Letters Patent, is-

v A gauging-box for shingles, constructed with the sides B,vwith their graduated steps b b b b', together with the movable box D and bar F, substantially as and for the purpose described.

4In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal.

` J. W.A ALESWORTH. [1.. s]

Witnesses:

C. W. M. SMITH, J. L. BOONE. 

